My New Blog

1.Pick an agent that has an extensive marketing plan check list, a good agent will have a detailed list when what needs to happen for marketing your home. Our team utilizes a software program were we set the plan up and when we start the marketing process all the items come in our daily to list for each team member to be able to execute what needs to be done to expose your home to the public and to the realtors. We post on many different websits and test that all the pictures are posted. For example when we reduce a price we pull in a plan that has 12 steps one of them is to notify all buyers and agents that have shown the home. On Wednesday we decide what homes to hold open for the weekend, again we pull in a plan and my assistant and myself are directed by the plan of all the postings and notification of buyers we will have to make to have a successful open house. The beauty of this is that at any time we can make a change in the master plan which we do often as our industry is forever changing.

2.Pick an agent that does have a strong online presents. Do your online search and check out if the agent has a web presents and how the current listings are showcased to the public. We utilize professional photographers of our pictures and virtual tours. We also utilize the featured home & showcase on realtor.com in Rancho Santa Margarita, this gives a huge advantage to our sellers. http://www.realtor.com   We also post our listings weekly on Craig's List, each listing receives its' own personal website.  etc....
 
3. List with an agent that has a followup systems and selling skills. Often homes may have lookers, but the agent does not follow up properly with the leads and if they follow up they do not have the selling skills. When you are interviewing an agent check for selling skills, are they trying to close you when you say “we need to think about it”. If not, the agent does not have the selling skills that are required in this market. We also utilize an 800 call capture, on our listings, which capturs potential buyers phone number and allows us to follow up with them to maybe answer questions and set appointments to show our properties if there is an interest. We do the same with our internet leads. We again utilize a system to follow up with all our internet leads.

4. Make your home available for showings. One of the reasons homes don’t sell is prohibiting showings between specific time periods, or requiring lengthy notices – anything longer than two-hour notice will affect the number of showings. By appointment only and no lock box is a huge handicap for trying to sell a home in this market.

5. Finally, listen to the expert advise of the agent’s recommendation on your home price or condition, you not only employ an agent for marketing your home, but also for their advise and expertise. We utilize a staging service and also we provide a very detailed CMA. For a sample CMA click here.

If you have been on the market and your agent was not successful for more information on how to be a successful home seller go to: http://www.WhyDidYourHomeNotSell.com

Now here in Rancho Santa Margarita, California we have a “soft” real estate market. Prices are off their highs by 20% or more in some areas. Some people think that there is a little more room for prices to drop.

If you want to invest in Rancho Santa Margarita or in Orange County real estate now is a good time to get in. Because it is a “soft” market the buyer has an edge when negotiating with the seller. Good deals and good terms can be had. Maybe the market will fall another 5% before it starts back up. Then again, maybe not. We still have great interest rates.

What is for sure is that ten years from now the prices are going to be considerably higher. How much higher is simply conjecture, but certain facts need to be reckoned with:

More people will want to live here in ten years; The dollar will be worth considerably less in ten years; Room for growth will become more scarce;
Labor and materials for construction will be more expensive; And there is no indication that government is going to make development in the region any easier.
All of these factors considered together make for a very complicated analysis, but a reasonable person could conclude that prices will be substantially up in the next ten years.

Classes are taught by Todd Riech, former Olympian, and Lisa Riech, licensed physical therapy assistant and highschool track coach.

Please bring a workout mat and a pair of dumbbells. Recommend weights: 5 lbs. for the beginner level, 8 lbs. for the intermediate level, 10-12 lbs. for the advanced level.

Date/Time: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
Session 1 - February 12 - March 8, 6:00 a.m. or 9:15 a.m.
Session 2 - March 18 - April 12, 6:00 a.m. or 9:15 a.m.
Location: Central Park, 30842 La Miranda
Fee: $120 for 3 days/week (or $80 for 2 days/week)

To register or for more information on classes contact:
Riech Personal Training & Coaching 949.413.5768
http://www.toddriech.com or info@toddriech.com

The Life Option

The town of Rancho Santa Margarita gives home and apartment hunters a chance at the healthiest life their housing dollar can buy. I call it the Life Life Option, because recreation was designed into Rancho Santa Margarita's basic plan from the beginning. and in a big way. Under the plan, over half of the towns 5,000 acres are devoted to open space and a network of recreational facilities which integrate residential neighborhoods. These facilities are designed to make available to residents an exceptional array of activities. Walk around the lake, or bike on some of the most majestic bike trails, or swim in the pools which are throughout the community. And around the town lies a paradise of parklands, baseball, soccer fields or tennis, basketball courts. Taken together, they comprise of marvelous conspiracy of God and man to keep Ranch Santa Margarita's residents living to the fullest.

Homes for People in All Stages of Life

Housing in Rancho Santa Margarita is for people with all sorts of needs and preferences. For single people, Married people. Families. People in their youth. Their mid years. Their later years. People at vious income levels and with changing space requirements. Here are apartments for people just starting out. Smaller attached homes for first-time buyers and larger ones for people moving up. And for people with growing families, there are detached homes in a range of sizes. And homes for people whose children have left "the nest".
Rancho Santa Margarita is a town you can live in for life. Starting as low as $200,000 and going up to over $1,000,000. Home prices have always been an exceptional value for orange county real estate.

Beautifully located. Secluded, yet accessible. Rancho Santa Margarita's setting is a gift of God. For the town sits amidst the beauty of a vast valley of viewlands. 5,600-foot Saddleback Mountain and the sprawling range of the Santa Ana Mountains. The woodlands of the Cleveland National Forest and rolling hills of Coto de Caza. O'Neill Regional Park and Trabuco Creek.
The arroyos and laderas of historic Rancho Mission Viejo. Land with an everpresent sense of size and grandeur.

Yet in location just 8 miles from Interstate 5 and within a very short distance of the 241 Tollroad. In Orange county, one of the nation's most buoyant economies; within access of lively business and commercial centers like Newport Beach and Irvine Spectrum. And of the many cultural, civic and retail facilities throughout the region.
From the town's very beginning, its designers invested its basic plan with a unique "village feel." By devoting over 2,500 acres to parks, plazas, picnic areas, sports fields, bike lanes, jogging paths, greenbelts. Open space designed to give residents what they need to relax to exercise or to simply gather together. It is the Urban Village concept of life and community.

 Saturday, April 19^th, 2008, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Bring your family, friends and a big appetite to this free event at Civic Plaza.  Tickets for the delectable tastes will be sold for $1.  Each restaurant booth will have a sampling of their menu available for your enjoyment ranging from $2 - $8.

The Rotary Club of Coto de Caza/Rancho Santa Margarita will host a Beer and Wine Garden at the event.  Try a new vintage or enjoy an old favorite as you mingle with friends and neighbors.

In between tastings, event goers will also enjoy the Go GREEN Expo.  This educational showcase will allow attendees to learn about the products and services offered locally that promote a greener lifestyle.  Join in the fun and get a jump on celebrating Earth Day 2008.  Taking care of the earth is not just a responsibility – it is a privilege. 

The fun continues at 8:00 p.m. with the After Taste – an after party hosted by the Rotary Club at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center.  The William Lyon Homes Ballroom will be rockin’ to the sounds of a Disco Band and restaurants will continue to serve their specialty dishes.  For ticket information visit www.rotarydelsol.com.

This event presents a wonderful opportunity for Rancho Santa Margarita residents and those of neighboring cities to gather and celebrate our vibrant community.

Taste of Rancho Sponsorship Opportunities

Taste of Rancho Event Flyer

Food Vendor Participant Application Form

Go GREEN Expo Participation Application Form

After Taste Flyer

Keyboard Shortcuts
Improve Your Efficiency

PCs are an integral part of our lives. We use them extensively at work and usually end up logging on in the evening as well, to read email and catch up on the day's events.

Since we spend so much of our time in front of the computer, it makes sense to find ways to improve our efficiency. This is where shortcuts come in. By using combinations of keystrokes, you can quickly access several tools without ever having to use your mouse. Most Windows shortcuts may be used for any Microsoft program (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) as well as selected products from other manufacturers.

If you would like to incorporate these shortcuts into your repertoire, try keeping a copy of this list at home and at work. Refer to it daily until the keystrokes become second nature. You'll be surprised at how much time you'll save!